Story Protocol Rebrands as Data Network Focused on AI Training

Story Protocol, once a decentralized network aimed at transforming the intellectual property sector, has rebranded itself as Data Network to concentrate on developing solutions for artificial intelligence (AI) training data. Along with the name change, its native token will migrate from the intellectual property designation (IP) to the new designation of DATA at a 1:1 ratio, which will automatically transition for existing holders.

The rebranding effort includes the launch of Trace, an on-chain registry for AI training data, and an integration with Kled, a human data marketplace which allows opt-in participation. Data Foundation CEO Andrea Muttoni indicated that the decision to pivot was informed by insights gained in 2025, particularly through an AI data processing project that secured $15 million from venture capital firm a16z. He shared, "The answer became unambiguous: The form of IP pulling hardest was AI training data. Labs have effectively run out of internet to scrape." This highlights the evolving landscape of data sourcing where costs and legal risks have become significant challenges.

Muttoni articulated a vision for the new Data Network as a solution that integrates data processing, sourcing, and verification into a single platform, stating that currently, no company adequately addresses all three aspects. He emphasized, “That’s the gap we have been positioned to fill since day one, and that is the problem we are now dedicating our lives to solving.” As Data Network, the initiative aims to track over 1 billion data records with the mission of being the trust layer for AI training data.

Despite recent trading fluctuations, where the former token formerly known as IP saw its price drop significantly, the transition to DATA has already prompted a 14% increase in value, though it remains under $0.35, far below its previous high of $14.78.